Foldable blade

ABSTRACT

A foldable blade having foldable wing portions for use in earth moving machinery. The foldable wing portions include a locking mechanism which enables the foldable wing portions to be locked in a folded position or an extended position. The locking mechanism is robust thus ensuring that the wing portions will be able to withstand considerable forces without collapsing during the pushing, scraping or transporting processes. The locking mechanism includes a locking pin assembly which is easy to lock and unlock, and also allows the foldable wing portions to be rotatable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates generally to a foldable blade and, more particularly, to a foldable blade having folding wing portions.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Blade assemblies are widely used in earth working machinery as well as other similar machines in order to push, scrape or otherwise transport earth between two remote locations. These same blade assemblies may also be used to clear snow from highways, streets and parking lots, as well as perform a host of other tasks.

[0003] Typically, blade assemblies include a replaceable cutting edge at the bottom portion of the blade and a stiffener plate at the opposing top portion of the blade. Also, conventional blade assemblies are of a fixed length typically greater than three (3) meters. This fixed length enables the blade to scrape or push a large amount of earth during each pass of the machine.

[0004] However, some blades are of such a large length that transporting the machine is of great difficulty. This is due mainly to the limited width of many highways, streets and the like. In fact, there are even many regulations, both domestically and internationally, that regulate or limit the entire width of the machine during transport. In one such known regulation, the width of the entire machine during transport is limited to no more than approximately three (3) meters. Thus, with blades over three (3) meters in length, for example, the entire blade assembly must be removed from the machine prior to transporting the machine.

[0005] The removal of the blade assembly from the machine is a very time consuming and tedious task. This can also be a very cost prohibitive procedure, especially when the machine must be transported several times depending on the location of the next work site. In any event, in order to remove the blade from the machine, several hydraulic systems, wiring harnesses and other mechanics must be disassembled, removed and stored prior to the transporting of the machine. To reattach the blade assembly to the machine, the reverse operation must be performed. After the blade is reassembled, the hydraulics as well as other components must be tested for reliability.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,618 to Niemela et al., issued on Jun. 17, 1997, discloses a plow with plow wings which are individually adjustable for both extension and forward angling. A hydraulic cylinder is pivotally attached to the plow wings and, when actuated, extends and forward angles the plow wings. However, during use of the plow a large load is placed upon the wings, and hence the hydraulic cylinder. This large load placed on the hydraulic cylinder may damage or even result in total failure of the hydraulic cylinder thus leading to collapse of the plow wings. This will render the plow useless and will require valuable time to repair.

[0007] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, a foldable blade has a main body portion and at least one side foldable wing portion rotatably mounted to a side of the main body portion between a first position and a second position. A first locking assembly is positioned between the main body portion and the at least one side foldable wing portion and locks the at least one side foldable wing in the first position and the second position. A second locking assembly is positioned between the main body portion and the at least one side foldable wing portion and locks the at least one side foldable wing portion in the first position.

[0009] In another aspect of the present invention, a foldable blade has a main body portion and a foldable wing portion rotatably mounted, between a first position and a second position, to the main body portion. A locking mechanism is positioned between the main body portion and the foldable wing portion, and includes a first locking assembly and a second locking assembly. The foldable wing portion is rotated about the first locking assembly and locked in the first and second positions by the first locking assembly and further locked in the second position by the second locking assembly.

[0010] In still another aspect of the present invention, a method of folding and locking a foldable blade into a retracted position is provided. The method has the steps of removing a first pin from apertures of a first locking assembly and removing a second pin from apertures of a second locking assembly. A side wing of the foldable blade is then extended outward and rotated rearwardly about a pivot pin of the first locking assembly. A second set of apertures of the first locking assembly are then aligned and a pin is inserted therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 shows a front view of the foldable blade of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the foldable blade of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 shows a locking mechanism of the foldable blade in a locked first position;

[0014]FIG. 4 shows a foldable wing of the foldable blade in an extended position;

[0015]FIG. 5 shows the locking mechanism in a locked second position;

[0016]FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the locking mechanism of the foldable blade in a locked first position;

[0017]FIG. 7 shows the foldable wing in an extended position; and

[0018]FIG. 8 shows the locking mechanism of the second embodiment in a locked second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019]FIG. 1 shows a foldable blade of the present invention. The foldable blade is generally depicted as reference numeral 2 and includes a main body portion 4 and opposing side foldable wing portions 6 in substantial alignment with the main body portion 4. The foldable blade 2 also includes a main cutting edge or scraper 8 at a bottom portion of the main body portion 4 and the opposing side foldable wing portions 6. A stiffener bar 10 is provided at an opposing top portion of the main blade portion 4. A face 12 of the foldable blade 2 is preferably a concave shape.

[0020]FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the foldable blade 2. In this view, a side plate 18 is shown fixed to the foldable wing portions 6 and a hitch mechanism 20 is shown mounted on the rear portion of the main body portion 4. A locking mechanism is also shown on the rear side of the foldable blade 2 between each of the foldable wing portions 6 and the main body portion 4. The locking mechanism includes a first locking assembly generally depicted as reference numeral 14 and a second locking assembly generally depicted as reference numeral 16. The first locking assembly 14 is located near a top portion of the foldable blade 2 between the foldable wing portion 6 and the main body portion 4. The second locking assembly 16 is located near a bottom portion of the foldable blade 2 also between the foldable wing portion 6 and the main body portion 4.

[0021] It should be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that the first locking assembly 14 and the second locking assembly 16 may also be located at other positions between the main body portion 4 and the foldable wing portion 6. For example, the first locking assembly 14 may be located at the bottom portion of the main body portion 4 and the foldable wing portion 6. Also, the use of a single foldable wing portion 6 on either side of the main body portion 4 is contemplated by the present invention. In such case, it is only necessary to provide one locking mechanism, i.e., one each of the first and second locking assemblies.

[0022]FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of the locking mechanism of the foldable blade 2. In FIG. 3, the first locking assembly 14 of the locking mechanism is shown to include a top plate 22 and a bottom plate 24 fixed to the main body portion 4 of the foldable blade 2. Both the top plate 22 and the bottom plate 24 include extended portions (ears) 22 a and 24 a, respectively. The first locking assembly 14 also includes an intermediate plate 26 fixed to the foldable wing portion 6 between the top plate 22 and the bottom plate 24. The top plate 22 and the bottom plate 24 each have respectively aligned apertures 28 a, 28 b and 28 c, where the aligned apertures 28 c preferably extend through the ears 22 a and 24 a. The intermediate plate 26 also includes apertures 30 a, 30 b and 30 c which will align with the apertures 28 a, 28 b and 28 c. (Aperture 30 b of the intermediate plate 26 is shown more clearly in FIG. 5.)

[0023] A plate guide 32 having an elongated slot 34 is fixed to the foldable wing portion 6. The shape of the plate guide 32 is preferably curved such that the elongated slot 34 is aligned with the apertures 28 a of the top plate 22 and the bottom plate 24 and the aperture 30 a of the intermediate plate 26. A first pin 36 is positioned within the aligned apertures 28 a and 30 a and extends through the top plate 22, the bottom plate 24 and the intermediate plate 26. The first pin 36 also extends into the elongated slot 34 of the plate guide 32. A bearing 38 may be positioned about the aperture 30 a of the intermediate plate 26. In the first locked position, a second pin 40 is inserted through the apertures 28 b and 30 b thus extending through the top plate 22, the bottom plate 24 and the intermediate plate 26.

[0024] Still referring to FIG. 3, the second locking assembly 16 of the locking mechanism includes a recess portion 42 mounted at a bottom portion of the main body portion 4. The recess portion 42 includes an aperture 44 located therethrough. A lock bar 46 is mounted to a bottom portion of the foldable wing portion 6 and is aligned with and engages the recess portion 42 when in a locked position. The lock bar 46 also includes an aperture 48 (FIG. 4) which is in alignment with the aperture 44 of the recess portion 42. A third pin 50 is inserted through the apertures 44 and 48.

[0025]FIG. 4 shows the foldable wing portion 6 in an extended position and the locking assemblies 14 and 16 in an unlocked state. In the unlocked state, the second pin 40 is disengaged from the aligned apertures 28 b and 30 b, and the third pin 50 is disengaged from the apertures 44 and 48. The lock bar 46 is also removed from the recess 42. The elongated slot 34 of the plate guide 32 is translated to a second position with respect to the first pin 36.

[0026]FIG. 5 shows the first locking assembly 14 and the second locking assembly 16 in a locked second position. In this locked second position, the foldable wing portion 6 is in a retracted or folded position behind the face 12 of the foldable blade 2. Also, the apertures 28 c located in the respective ears 22 a and 24 a of the top plate 22 and the bottom plate 24 are aligned with the aperture 30 c of the intermediate plate 26. A locking pin 52 is inserted through the apertures 28 c and 30 c. The second pin 40 may be placed through the aligned apertures 28 b of the top plate 22 and the bottom plate 24, while the entire foldable wing portion 6 is rotatable about the first pin 36. The third pin 50 may be placed through the aperture 44 and extended through the recess portion 42.

[0027]FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the locking mechanism of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first locking assembly 14 is the same as the first locking assembly 14 of FIGS. 3-5 and a discussion herein is thus omitted. The second locking assembly 16 includes the recess portion 42 and the lock bar 46. A bolt hole 54 extends longitudinally through the lock bar 46 and is aligned with a bolt hole 56 located at a remote end of the recess portion 42. In the locked position of FIG. 6, the lock bar 46 extends into the recess and a bolt (or pin) 58 extends through the bolt hole 54 of the lock bar 46 and into the bolt hole 56 of the recess portion 42.

[0028]FIG. 7 shows the foldable wing portion 6 in an extended position. Much like the extended position shown in FIG. 4, the second pin 40 is disengaged from the apertures 28 b and 30 b of the first locking assembly 14, and the elongated slot 34 of the plate guide 32 is translated to a second position with respect to the first pin 36. In this embodiment, the bolt 58 is disengaged from the bolt hole 56 and the lock bar 46 is also removed from the recess portion 42.

[0029]FIG. 8 shows the locking mechanism of the second embodiment in a locked second position. In this locked second position, the foldable wing portion 6 is in a retracted or folded position behind the face 12 of the foldable blade 2. The apertures 28 c located on the respective ears 22 a and 24 a are aligned with the aperture 30 c of the intermediate plate 26. The locking pin 52 is inserted through the apertures 28 c and 30 c. The second pin 40 may be placed through the aligned apertures 28 b of the top plate 22 and the bottom plate 24. Also, the bolt 58 remains within the bolt hole 54 of the lock bar 46.

[0030] Industrial Applicability

[0031] In operation, the foldable blade 2 includes foldable wing portions 6 which are capable of being retracted to a folded position for transportation of the machine and unfolded for use in scraping, pushing and transporting earth. In the unfolded position, the locking assemblies 14 and 16 are locked into a first position.

[0032] Specifically, apertures 28 b of the top plate 22 and the bottom plate 24 as well as the aperture 30 b of the intermediate plate 26 are aligned with one another. Also, a portion of the lock bar 46 is inserted within the recess portion 42 such that the aperture 44 of the recess portion 42 and the aperture 48 of the lock bar 46 are aligned with one another. To lock the foldable wing portions 6 in the unfolded position, the second pin 40 is inserted through the apertures 28 b and 30 b and the third pin 50 is inserted through the apertures 44 and 48. In another embodiment, the bolt 58 may be bolted between the recess portion 42 and the lock bar 46.

[0033] To unlock and fold the foldable wing portions 6, the second pin 40 is removed from the apertures 28 b and 30 b and the third pin 50 is removed from the apertures 44 and 48. The wing portions 6 are then extended outward such that the elongated slot 32 is translated with respect to the first pin 36. In this manner, a portion of the lock bar 46 is removed from the recess portion 42. The foldable wing portions 6 are then rotated about the first pin 36 until the aperture 30 c of the intermediate plate 26 is aligned with the apertures 28 c of the top plate 22 and the bottom plate 24 (located on the respective ears 22 a and 24 a). The locking pin 52 is then inserted through the apertures 28 c and 30 c in order to lock the foldable wing portions 6 behind the main body portion 4 of the foldable blade 2. The second pin 40 may be placed within the apertures 28 b and the third pin 50 may be placed in aperture 44 for storage.

[0034] Other aspects and features of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A foldable blade, comprising: a main body portion; at least one side foldable wing portion rotatably mounted to a side of the main body portion between a first position in substantial alignment with the main body portion and a second position rearwardly of the main body portion; a first locking assembly having a pin assembly and being positioned between the main body portion and the at least one side foldable wing portion, the first locking assembly locking the at least one side foldable wing portion in the first position and the second position; a second locking assembly having a pin assembly and being positioned between the main body portion and the at least one side foldable wing portion proximate to the first locking assembly, the second locking assembly locking the at least one side foldable wing portion in the first position.
 2. The foldable blade of claim 1, wherein the at least one foldable wing portion includes two foldable wing portions rotatably mounted on opposing sides of the main body portion.
 3. The foldable blade of claim 1, wherein the first locking assembly includes: a top plate fixed to the main body portion, the top plate having a first aperture and a second aperture; a bottom plate fixed to the main body portion, the bottom plate having a first aperture and a second aperture; an intermediate plate positioned between the top plate and the bottom plate, the intermediate plate having a first aperture and a second aperture, a pivoting pin extending through the first aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate.
 4. The foldable blade of claim 3, including a bearing positioned within the first aperture of the intermediate plate and extending about the pivoting pin, the at least one side foldable wing portion being rotated about the pivoting pin.
 5. The foldable blade of claim 3, including a guide plate having an elongated slot, the pivoting pin extending within the elongated slot.
 6. The foldable blade of claim 3, including a pin extending through the second aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate when the side foldable wing portion is in the first portion.
 7. The foldable blade of claim 3, wherein the top plate and the bottom plate include an ear portion remote from the first and second apertures of the top plate and the bottom plate.
 8. The foldable blade of claim 7, wherein the top plate and the bottom plate each include a third aperture positioned on the ear portion of the top plate and the bottom plate, respectively, and the intermediate plate includes a third aperture positioned remote from the first aperture and the second aperture of the intermediate plate.
 9. The foldable blade of claim 8, including a locking pin extending through the third aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the second position.
 10. The foldable blade of claim 8, wherein: the first aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate remain in alignment when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position and the second position; the second aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate remain in alignment when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position; the third aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate remain in alignment when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the second portion; and the first, second and third apertures of the top plate and the bottom plate remain in alignment when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position and the second position.
 11. The foldable blade of claim 3, wherein the second locking assembly includes; a recess portion mounted on the main body portion; an aperture positioned through the recess portion; a lock bar having a portion extending through the recess portion when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position; and a lock bar aperture located on the lock bar and in alignment with the aperture of the recess portion when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position.
 12. The foldable blade of claim 11, including a lock bar pin extending through the aperture of the recess portion and the lock bar aperture when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position.
 13. The foldable blade of claim 10, wherein the aperture of the recess portion is located at a remote end of the recess portion and the aperture of the lock bar extends longitudinally through the lock bar and is aligned with the aperture of the recess portion.
 14. A foldable blade, comprising: a main body portion; a foldable wing portion rotatably mounted to a side of the main body portion between a first position in substantial alignment with the main body portion and a second position rearwardly of the main body portion; and a locking mechanism positioned between the main body portion and the foldable wing portion, the locking mechanism includes a first locking assembly and a second locking assembly, the foldable wing portion being rotated about the first locking assembly and being locked in the first position by the first locking assembly and the second locking assembly and further being locked in the second position by the first locking assembly.
 15. The foldable blade of claim 14, wherein the first locking assembly includes: a top plate having a first aperture, a second aperture and a third aperture; a bottom plate having a first aperture, a second aperture and a third aperture; an intermediate plate positioned between the top plate and the bottom plate and having a first aperture, a second aperture and a third aperture, a pivoting pin extending through the first aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate.
 16. The foldable blade of claim 15, including a bearing positioned within the first aperture of the intermediate plate and extending about the pivoting pin, the foldable wing portion being rotated about the pivoting pin.
 17. The foldable blade of claim 15, including a guide plate having an elongated slot, the pivoting pin extending within the elongated slot.
 18. The foldable blade of claim 15, including: a first pin extending through the second aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate when the foldable wing portion is in the first portion; and a third pin extending through the third aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate when the foldable wing portion is in the second portion.
 19. The foldable blade of claim 18, wherein the top plate and the bottom plate include an ear portion remote from the first and second apertures of the top plate and the bottom plate, the third aperture of the top plate and the bottom plate are located on the ear portion.
 20. The foldable blade of claim 15, wherein the second locking assembly includes; a recess portion mounted on the main body portion; an aperture positioned through the recess portion; a lock bar having a portion extending through the recess portion when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position; and a lock bar aperture located on the lock bar and in alignment with the aperture of the recess portion when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position.
 21. A method of folding and locking a foldable blade into a retracted position, comprising the steps of: removing a first pin from an aligned first aperture of a top plate, an intermediate plate and a bottom plate of a first locking assembly; removing a second pin from an aligned first aperture and a second aperture of a second locking assembly; extending outward a side wing of the foldable blade; rotating the side wing rearwardly about a pivot pin of the first locking assembly to a rear portion of the foldable blade; aligning a second aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate of the first locking assembly with one another; and inserting a third pin through the aligned second apertures of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate. 